by Fr. Bel R. San Luis, SVD
Did you know that Jesus mentioned “television” in the gospel? After the Transfiguration at Mt. Tabor, he said: “Tel-e-vision to no one.” (Mark 9,9).
Levity aside, the gospel this 18th Sunday relates not about television but the vision of Jesus’ transfiguration (cf. (Mk 9,2-10).
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The transfiguration in which the Lord’s appearance was transformed into a glorious form was to be a spiritual booster after Jesus told them that he was going to suffer terribly and die in Jerusalem.
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This brings us to the reality of faith. The nature of faith is such that no matter how faithfully we live Christ’s teachings, there will be times when our faith will be shaken. It will seem to flicker and threaten to be extinguished.
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In his book Through the Eyes of Faith, Fr. John Powell relates about a friend George who had a coronary heart attack in his mid-thirties. He was so weakened that he could walk only short distances and had to live a sedentary life.
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Then in his 40s George had more than twenty operations for cancer of the face, including removal of his nose. George was asked if he ever lost faith in God. He replied: “These are the cards God gave me which I lovingly play.” Would we have the same faith as George had?
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The adversity or misfortune may not be a life-threatening sickness like that of George but could be the loss of crops and properties resulting from destructive floods or fire. It could also be the meaningless death of a loved one by a drug-crazed man or the traumatic effect of children growing up from separated parents.
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If we can do something to remedy these adversities, by all means let’s do it. But if we cannot, then let’s hold on in faith and trust that God in his goodness has something better in store for us. Remember the saying: “When God closes a window, He opens another one.”
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Like the transfiguration experience of Jesus witnessed by his three disciples at Mt. Tabor, faith has peak and low moments, mountaintop as well as valley instances.
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When low points in our faith come – and surely they will – we should not be overly disturbed or crushed by them. Of course, human as we are, we will feel down. But what’s more important is to rise from our discouragement, pick ourselves up and move on.
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Such was the faith of Abraham, chosen by God to be the father of all nations. His faith flickered when God was asking him to sacrifice his only son Isaac. It did not pain him only but was greatly puzzled how God could make such a “senseless” order when he was told to be the father of all nations!
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But Abraham trusted God. For this the Lord blessed him far beyond his wildest imagination.
Hence, let’s persevere in faith.
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CHURCH SIGNS: “Running low on faith? Stop in (church) for a refill.”
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“Dusty Bibles lead to Dirty Lives.”
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Two hands holding stone tablets on which the 10 Commandments are inscribed and a headline that reads, -”For Fast Relief, Take Two Tablets.”
